PROFILE IN A CAPSULE

INTRODUCTION: Today many people wonder about the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International. They ask, "What is the El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI all about?" "Why do hundreds of thousands and even millions of people flock to its fellowships, singing and dancing in praise of God for hours, despite the heavy rains or the scorching heat of the sun—whenever and wherever its Mass and Healing Rallies are held?" Observers call it a phenomenon, but the members and followers of the Foundation call it "God's amazing grace at work" (John 5:17), for it is indeed a manifestation of God at work— performing miracles, particularly among the people who heed the Word of God, healing the sick, and transforming the lives of those who repent and turn away from their wicked ways! The Foundation has undoubtedly become a religious wonder and a "miracle of faith" in the Philippines, as well as in other parts of the world.

EL SHADDAI ETYMOLOGY: El Shaddai is a combination of two Hebrew words: "El" which means God, and "Shaddai" which means Almighty; thus El Shaddai is translated as "God Almighty" (Genesis 17:1; 35:11, NIV). It is one of the seven Covenant Names through which our God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, revealed Himself to the Israelites, His Chosen people. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the All-Powerful and Ever-Living God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is "The God Who Is More Than Enough." He is the Source and Provider of all our needs, and with Him, all things are possible. (See Etymology of El Shaddai.)

IDENTITY: The El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI is a Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement. It envisions to bring about a revival of the true Christian spirit in the Catholic faith. It aims to raise up a community of faith-filled-generous believers of the Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in Acts 2:42-47, which by Divine Guidance and Providence has now miraculously established these communities in many areas worldwide. (See vision and mission.)

BRIEF HISTORY: Sometime in February 1978, at the age of 38, Mariano Zuniega Velarde, now popularly known as Bro. Mike Velarde, a geodetic engineer and real estate developer, was confined at the Philippine Heart Center for Asia Hospital due to heart enlargement and multiple heart artery blocks. One evening, a nurse, whom Bro. Mike believes may have been an angel, brought to his room the Word of God 1 Cor. 10:13 Meditation on this verse miraculously healed him. After a thorough examination by his doctors, his operations was cancelled and he was discharged from the hospital with a clean bill of health. His healing transformed him from being a fisher of dollars and pesos to a fisher of men for the Lord Jesus Christ.

In August of 1983, Brother Mike started to share with others his miraculous healing and the goodness of God over DWXI (1314 kHz) AM, which he owns. After a few months of airing his weekly Gospel broadcasts, miraculous healing and conversions were being reported by its listeners, and people from all walks of life started to troop to his office for prayer and counseling.

Bro. Mike formally organized the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International as an institution wherein he could channel his tithes and offering derived from his real estate business, on August 20, 1984 to support the Gospel broadcasts of DWXI Radio Station. In addition to the Gospel broadcasts, Bro. Mike launched a weekly Mass and healing crusade centered on the Eucharist and the preaching of the Gospel, which attracted thousands upon thousands weekly, mostly listeners to his DWXI Gospel broadcasts. Today, in Manila alone, the weekly attendance has reached to half a million, more or less.

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